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Rack Removal (now with video's & Pics on Pg3)
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32265		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  Hanra [ Tue May 29, 2007 10:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Rack Removal (now with video's & Pics on Pg3)
Ok, i know that removing the steering rack is a bit of a job with the subframe in, but ive got a feeling that its gotta come out....

Undo tie rod ends, undo colum to rack spline, undo 4 tower bolts, undo 4 subframe to floor bolts, undo U bolts to rack, lower back end of subframe... remove rack....?

Sound about right?

I had my rack reco'd back in 97, and id say the car has done about 20k miles since having the rack reco'd. I would of thought it should have been ok.

The issue i have is that, there is freeplay in the steering. When driving the car, it tends to feel wandery.. As if that area of freeplay allows the wheels to point wherever they want, to an extent.

I had fitted an exchange colum inner, so the spline on the colum is in good condition and the clamp bolt is tight.

Castor is set to standard. It seems that ive noticed this since going to a wider track with the Honda Brakes...

Question is... Is there an adjustment in the rack to remove the freeplay? Or is it shimmed when assembled?
Author:  drmini in aust [ Tue May 29, 2007 10:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
If you have freeplay that developed in a hurry, probably the 2 Belleville spring washers that preload the rack against the pinion have broken.
The rack has to come out, there's SFA you can do with it in the car except change the boots.
The other thing that wears is the felt push in the LH end of rack. I fitted a Nolathane one.
I got all the other parts for my rack from Ken Nelson at Mini Automotive. :wink:

<edit> add to your list loosen the front 2 bolts. I removed the steady bar, and remote shift housing too.
Author:  Hanra [ Tue May 29, 2007 10:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yeah, i cant remember it being this bad.. Just dont drive it enough to remember faults.!!!

If it is these springs at fault, is there a cause for there failure? Or just age, im unsure wat exactly was done when the rack was reco'd, that was 10yrs ago and i was still a teenager who was young n dumb!

Like i said, i would think that in the time ive had the car on the road over the last 10yrs, it would have only covered 20,000 miles.
Author:  drmini in aust [ Tue May 29, 2007 10:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hanra wrote:
Yeah, i cant remember it being this bad.. Just dont drive it enough to remember faults.!!!

If it is these springs at fault, is there a cause for there failure? Or just age, im unsure wat exactly was done when the rack was reco'd, that was 10yrs ago and i was still a teenager who was young n dumb!

Like i said, i would think that in the time ive had the car on the road over the last 10yrs, it would have only covered 20,000 miles.

These 2 tapered (cone shaped, mounted back to back) spring washers fatigue and crack over time. I always replace them, seen too many break to risk re-use.
Author:  Hanra [ Tue May 29, 2007 11:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
Im just reading through all my w/shop manuals, and wat a pain its gunna be to pull the bloody thing out....

I mite as well pull the engine out while im going and give it another rebuild just for the sake of it...
Author:  drmini in aust [ Wed May 30, 2007 6:43 am ]
Post subject: 
Hanra wrote:
Im just reading through all my w/shop manuals, and wat a pain its gunna be to pull the bloody thing out....

I mite as well pull the engine out while im going and give it another rebuild just for the sake of it...

Most workshop manuals do not show these 2 washers, but the spring used instead in UK racks.
Author:  lil-ute [ Wed May 30, 2007 7:04 am ]
Post subject: 
thats a lot of kilometres on the back of a trailer
Author:  Hanra [ Wed May 30, 2007 7:18 am ]
Post subject: 
drmini in aust wrote:
Hanra wrote:
Im just reading through all my w/shop manuals, and wat a pain its gunna be to pull the bloody thing out....

I mite as well pull the engine out while im going and give it another rebuild just for the sake of it...

Most workshop manuals do not show these 2 washers, but the spring used instead in UK racks.


Dont spose u have a pic that u can send me?

Ive got a gregorys manual and the black leyland mini workshop manual. If not im sure steve (justmini's) will know exactly wat ur talking about. Ill get him to have a look when he gets back from brisbane.


alsminik wrote:
thats a lot of kilometres on the back of a trailer


Most of those miles were put on the car back in 97-98 when i first got it on the road. Its only done a few thousand miles in the last 4 1/2 yrs that its been on the road the 2nd time..

And yes it has covered probably a thousand k's on the back of a trailer.
Author:  cush [ Wed May 30, 2007 7:24 am ]
Post subject: 
it's definatley do-able with the rack in the car..

some helpful info to be found here..

http://ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php ... ck+removal

http://ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php ... ck+removal

http://community.webshots.com/album/117738459JkCtax

and when you're putting it back in...

http://ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php ... light=rack

Quote:
If it is these springs at fault, is there a cause for there failure?


disuse, most likely... the washers probably started biodegrading... ;)
Author:  Hanra [ Wed May 30, 2007 7:29 am ]
Post subject: 
Good tips there, thanks for that.
Author:  cush [ Wed May 30, 2007 7:34 am ]
Post subject: 
mind the paint... ;)
Author:  Mike_Byron [ Wed May 30, 2007 8:40 am ]
Post subject: 
Do check ball joints, tie rod ends and front wheel bearings before drastic surgery.
Author:  Hanra [ Wed May 30, 2007 10:08 am ]
Post subject: 
For sure, ill check all the obvious stuff, but the tie rod ends, ball joints, along with the wheel bearings were new 4 years ago when the car first got on the road. As ive said previous its only done a few thousand miles since then.
Author:  MiniBob [ Wed May 30, 2007 11:13 am ]
Post subject: 
Hanra have a word with Poeee. He thought he had rack problems and replaced it. Turned out to be something else and the old rack was fine.
(Sorry can't recall what the "something" was)
Author:  Mike_Byron [ Wed May 30, 2007 11:19 am ]
Post subject: 
Pooee's problem was a stripped splines on the steering wheel shaft where it fitted to the rack.

I also had the same problem on a car here.

It was because the rack was not quite centred and the seering shaft was forced onto it.

I dont know what caused Pooee's
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